The Effect of Draining Forge Pond on the Assonet River

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2009 The ffecE t of Draining Forge Pond on the Assonet River

Recommended Citation Apponequet Regional High School, Lakeville, Massachusetts (2009). The Effect of Draining Forge Pond on the Assonet River. In Watershed Access Lab Projects. Project 75. Available at: http://vc.bridgew.edu/wal_projects/75

This item is available as part of Virtual Commons, the open-access institutional repository of Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, Massachusetts. The Effects of Draining Forge Pond on the Assonet River

Group Members: Alyssa Barbosa, Brianne Beckman, Jessica Carreiro, Kristen Maltais, Brandon Riendeau, Adrianna Wright and Brieanne Young Question for Investigation: HOW DOES THE DRAINING OF FORGE POND EFFECT THE ASSONET RIVER????

History of the Assonet River

• 18th century - American Revolutionary War.

• 19th century - fishing and cargo ships

• Assonet Bay Shores is a peninsula formed by Assonet Bay, Payne Cove, and Shepherd's Cove. Across Shepherd's Cove is an abundance of higher-end homes. The Draining of Forge Pond

• 1703- The Forge Pond dam was built • Mid 1800’s- the dam powered a manufacturing plant. • July 2007- lowering the level of the pond by cutting wooden planks inside concrete sluiceways. They will continue doing so until they drain 3-4 feet of water. • Today- The pond has crested above the dam. The water has also begun to filter through the massive rocks that make up the dam. If one of these rocks were to become dislodged, the entire dam would break.

Temperature vs. Time, Assonet River, October 1-2, 2008 Beechwood 18 16

Temperature Beechwood Forge 12 Locust • Beechwood (mg/l) DO consistently has the 10 lowest temperature of 8 the three sets. 6 0:00:00 1:00:00 2:00:00 3:00:00 4:00:00 5:00:00 6:00:00 7:00:00 8:00:00 9:00:00 14:00:0015:00:0016:00:0017:00:0018:00:0019:00:0020:00:0021:00:0022:00:0023:00:00 10:00:0011:00:0012:00:0013:00:0014:00:00 Time (HHMMSS) • Why? Temperature vs. Time, Assonet River, March 31 - April 1, 2009

. Ground water from 18

wetlands. 16 . The temperatures 14 Beechwood Forge 12 Locust

show a diurnal (C) Temperature change. 10 8

140000150000160000170000180000190000200000210000220000230000 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 60000 70000 80000 90000100000110000120000130000140000 Time (HHMMSS) pH of the Assonet River

• Factors that increase pH: – Surrounding minerals in rock and soil – Atmospheric deposition (Acid Rain) • Factors that decrease pH: – Direct atmospheric decomposition – Acid mining drainage – Industrial discharge – Optimal Ranges for Aquatic Organisms: 6.5 - 8.5 • ALL SITES ARE UNDER OPTIMAL RANGE!

pH vs. Time, Assonet River, October 1-2, 2008

6.5

Beechwood pH 6

5.5

Beechwood Forge

Locust pH(units) • Beechwood always 5

maintains the lowest 4.5

pH values for October 4

pH vs. Time, Assonet River, March 31 - April 1, 2009

– Why? 6.5 • Cellular respiration 6 • Drainage of upstream

wetlands 5.5 Beechwood Forge Locust • Production of CO2 with (Units) pH decomposition 5

4.5

4 0

140000150000160000170000180000190000200000210000220000230000 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 60000 70000 80000 90000100000110000120000130000140000 Time (HHMMSS) Dissolved Oxygen vs. Time, Assonet River, October 1-2, 2008

Upstream Site 9

8 Beechwood Forge

DO(mg/l) 7 Locust

. Overall, there is less 5 DO than other 2 sites 4 3

0:00:001:00:002:00:003:00:004:00:005:00:006:00:007:00:008:00:009:00:00 on both sampling dates 14:00:0015:00:0016:00:0017:00:0018:00:0019:00:0020:00:0021:00:0022:00:0023:00:00 10:00:0011:00:0012:00:0013:00:0014:00:00 Time (HHMMSS) Why? Dissolved Oxygen vs. Time, Assonet River, March 31 - April 1, 2009

• The water has not yet been 11 aerated by dams 10

Beechwood • Upstream from Beechwood is a 8 Forge Locust

wetlands area 7 Dissolved Oxygen (mg/l) Oxygen Dissolved 6

140000150000160000170000180000190000200000210000220000230000 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 60000 70000 80000 90000100000110000120000130000140000 Time (HHMMSS) Beechwood Site Discharge

• Beechwood’s velocity, although it is the upstream site, is decreased compared to the Forge site. • Why? . Forge has a dam . Forge pond adds excess water to the downstream sites

Major Group or Count Count Average Average Group or Tolerance Total X Average Family Replicate 1 Replicate 2 Count Density Family % Value Original Density Ephemeroptera 0 12 6 17 4 4 68 Baetidae Ephemeroptera 1 1 1 3 0.74 4 12 Heptageniidae Plecoptera Nemouridae 2 1 3 0.74 2 6 Plecoptera 0 7 3.5 10 2 2 20 Taeniopterygidae Trichoptera 6 4 5 14 3 3 42 Hydropsychidae

Trichoptera 1 0 0.5 1 0.3 3 3 Philopotamidae Diptera 3 22 12.5 36 9 7 252 Chironomidae Odonata 1 0 0.5 1 0.3 3 3 Cordulegastridae Megaloptera 0 2 1 3 0.74 2 6 Corydalidae Coleoptera Elmidae 11 2 6.5 19 5 4 76 Coleoptera Psephenidae 3 2 2.5 7 2 4 28 Amphipoda 79 49 64 183 45 7 1281 Isopoda Asellidae 9 24 16.5 47 12 8 376 Gastropoda 2 26 14 40 10 7 280 Oligochaeta 9 0 4.5 13 3 9 117 Hirudinea 1 3 2 6 1 10 60 Hemiptera 0 3 1.5 4 0.98 8 32 Macroinvertebrates of Beechwood PERCENT TOLERANCE • The percent tolerant macroinvertebrates Ephemeroptera Baetidae Ephemeroptera Heptageniidae for Beechwood Plecoptera Nemouridae is 80.42%. Plecoptera Taeniopterygidae Trichoptera Hydropsychidae • The tolerance Trichoptera Philopotamidae Diptera Chironomidae levels for this Odonata Cordulegastridae category are Megaloptera Corydalidae Coleoptera Elmidae from 7-10. Coleoptera Psephenidae Amphipoda Isopoda Asellidae Gastropoda Oligochaeta Hirudinea Hemiptera

PERCENT INTOLERANCE •The percent intolerant for Beechwood is 8.04% • The tolerance levels for this category range from 0-3. •Because the number of tolerant bugs surpasses the number of intolerant bugs, the water quality for Beechwood is poor, with an FBI of 6.51

Temperature vs. Time, Assonet River, October 1-2, 2008

Forge Site 18 Temperature 16

Beechwood Forge 12 Locust • There is an increase (mg/l) DO in temperature 10 between the 8 6

0:00:00 1:00:00 2:00:00 3:00:00 4:00:00 5:00:00 6:00:00 7:00:00 8:00:00 9:00:00 Beechwood Site and 14:00:0015:00:0016:00:0017:00:0018:00:0019:00:0020:00:0021:00:0022:00:0023:00:00 10:00:0011:00:0012:00:0013:00:0014:00:00 Time (HHMMSS) Forge site. Temperature vs. Time, Assonet River, March 31 - April 1, 2009 • Why? 18

16 . Impoundment 14

Beechwood upstream from the Forge

12 Locust Temperature (C) Temperature

bridge 10

. Forge Pond 8

0 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 60000 70000 80000 90000 140000150000160000170000180000190000200000210000220000230000 100000110000120000130000140000 Time (HHMMSS) pH vs. Time, Assonet River, October 1-2, 2008 Forge pH 6.5 6 • pH at Forge is higher than 5.5 Beechwood Beechwood Forge

Locust pH(units) – Why? 5

• Less cellular 4.5 respiration 4

0:00:00 1:00:00 2:00:00 3:00:00 4:00:00 5:00:00 6:00:00 7:00:00 8:00:00 9:00:00 14:00:0015:00:0016:00:0017:00:0018:00:0019:00:0020:00:0021:00:0022:00:0023:00:00 10:00:0011:00:0012:00:0013:00:0014:00:00 • Forge is the only site Time (HHMMSS) whose pH increases in pH vs. Time, Assonet River, March 31 - April 1, 2009 6.5 March – Why? 6

• Water temperature 5.5 Beechwood Forge

increases in March Locust pH (Units) pH 5 • More cellular respiration

• Wetland-like conditions 4.5

Midstream Site 9

8 Beechwood Forge • DO is higher than DO(mg/l) 7 Locust 6

Beechwood but lower 5 than Locust 4 3

0:00:001:00:002:00:003:00:004:00:005:00:006:00:007:00:008:00:009:00:00 14:00:0015:00:0016:00:0017:00:0018:00:0019:00:0020:00:0021:00:0022:00:0023:00:00 10:00:0011:00:0012:00:0013:00:0014:00:00 • Why? Time (HHMMSS) • Higher than Beechwood Dissolved Oxygen vs. Time, Assonet River, March 31 - April 1, 2009 because water has gone 12 11

through a dam 10

• Lower than Locust Beechwood 8 Forge Locust

because water has 7 Dissolved Oxygen (mg/l) Oxygen Dissolved heated up in Forge Pond 6 due to large surface area 5 4

3 0 140000150000160000170000180000190000200000210000220000230000 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 60000 70000 80000 90000100000110000120000130000140000 Time (HHMMSS) Forge Site Discharge

• Forge, although being the midstream site has the highest discharge due to the excess water being removed from Forge Pond. • Why? . Wall . Channels

Major Group or Count Count Average Average Group or Tolerance Total X Average Family Replicate 1 Replicate 2 Count Density Family % Value Original Density

Ephemeroptera 1 8 4.5 9 2 4 36 Baetidae Ephemeroptera 6 4 5 10 2 4 40 Heptageniidae Plecoptera 1 0 1 2 0.4 1 2 Perlidae Trichoptera 68 16 42 87 17 3 261 Hydropsychidae Diptera 2 2 2 4 0.8 7 28 Chironomidae Diptera 0 1 1 2 0.4 6 12 Empididae Diptera 0 1 1 2 0.4 6 12 Simuliidae Odonata 1 0 1 2 0.4 3 6 Lestidae Coleoptera 6 2 4 8 2 4 32 Elmidae Coleoptera 0 5 5 10 2 4 40 Psephenidae Amphipoda 65 191 128 265 50 7 1792 Isopoda 4 0 4 8 1.5 8 64 Asellidae Gastropoda 7 4 5.5 11 2 7 77 Pelecypoda 0 25 25 52 10 7 364 Oligochaeta 8 33 20.5 42 8 9 378 Hirudinea 0 2 2 4 0.8 10 40 Hemiptera 1 2 1.5 3 1 8 24 Macroinvertebrates of Forge The percent tolerant macro-invertebrates for Forge is 74.31%.

Ephemeroptera Baetidae Ephemeroptera Heptageniidae Plecoptera Perlidae Trichoptera Hydropsychidae Diptera Chironomidae Diptera Empididae Diptera Simuliidae Odonata Lestidae Coleoptera Elmidae Coleoptera Psephenidae Amphipoda Isopoda Asellidae Gastropoda Pelecypoda Oligochaeta Hirudinea Hemiptera

Because the number of tolerant bugs surpasses The percent the number of intolerant bugs, the water quality intolerant for Forge is for Forge is still poor with an FBI of 6.76. 17.25%.

Temperature vs. Time, Assonet River, October 1-2, 2008

Locust Site 18 Temperature 16 14

Beechwood Forge 12 Locust • The Locust and (mg/l) DO 10

Forge Sites have 8 very similar 6 0:00:00 1:00:00 2:00:00 3:00:00 4:00:00 5:00:00 6:00:00 7:00:00 8:00:00 9:00:00 14:00:0015:00:0016:00:0017:00:0018:00:0019:00:0020:00:0021:00:0022:00:0023:00:00 10:00:0011:00:0012:00:0013:00:0014:00:00 Time (HHMMSS) temperatures. Temperature vs. Time, Assonet River, March 31 - April 1, 2009 • Why? 18

. Less than one- 14

Beechwood Forge

mile apart 12 Locust Temperature (C) Temperature . Scarce canopy 10 8

6 0

140000150000160000170000180000190000200000210000220000230000 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 60000 70000 80000 90000100000110000120000130000140000 Time (HHMMSS) pH vs. Time, Assonet River, October 1-2, 2008 Locust pH 6.5 6 • pH stays generally the

same for October and 5.5 Beechwood March, and is below Forge

Locust pH(units) optimal range 5

– Why? 4.5 • Presence of in stream vegetation 4 0:00:00 1:00:00 2:00:00 3:00:00 4:00:00 5:00:00 6:00:00 7:00:00 8:00:00 9:00:00 14:00:0015:00:0016:00:0017:00:0018:00:0019:00:0020:00:0021:00:0022:00:0023:00:00 10:00:0011:00:0012:00:0013:00:0014:00:00 • Decaying organic Time (HHMMSS) pH vs. Time, Assonet River, March 31 - April 1, 2009

matter 6.5

Historical 6 • According to historical data for 5.5

Beechwood Beechwood and Locust, pH Forge

Locust pH (Units) pH was acidic (<5.0) in November 5 of 2006.

So… the data from 2008-2009 is 4.5 consistent with the historical data. 4 0

140000150000160000170000180000190000200000210000220000230000 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 60000 70000 80000 90000100000110000120000130000140000 Time (HHMMSS)

Dissolved Oxygen vs. Time, Assonet River, October 1-2, 2008

Downstream Site 9

8 Beechwood Forge • Has the most DO(mg/l) 7 Locust 6

DO in both 5 March and 4 3

0:00:001:00:002:00:003:00:004:00:005:00:006:00:007:00:008:00:009:00:00 October 14:00:0015:00:0016:00:0017:00:0018:00:0019:00:0020:00:0021:00:0022:00:0023:00:00 10:00:0011:00:0012:00:0013:00:0014:00:00 Time (HHMMSS) Why? Dissolved Oxygen vs. Time, Assonet River, March 31 - April 1, 2009

• Water has travelled far, all 12

the while being aerated 11

• Large rocks and boulders 10

were present, increasing 9

Beechwood riffling 8 Forge Locust

• Dam upstream has a higher 7 Dissolved Oxygen (mg/l) Oxygen Dissolved drop with more rocks at its 6

spillway 5

• A lot of vegetation 4

140000150000160000170000180000190000200000210000220000230000 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 60000 70000 80000 90000100000110000120000130000140000 Time (HHMMSS) Major Group or Count Average Average Group or Tolerance Total X Average Family Replicate 1 Count Density Family % Value Original Density

Ephemeroptera Baetidae 10 10 23 4 4 92

Ephemeroptera 3 3 7 1 4 28 Heptageniidae

Trichoptera 117 117 269 51 3 807 Hydropsychidae

Diptera 7 7 16 3 7 112 Chironomidae

Megaloptera Corydalidae 7 7 16 3 2 32

Coleoptera 9 9 21 4 4 84 Elmidae

Coleoptera Psephenidae 4 4 9 2 4 36

Amphipoda 2 2 5 1 7 35

Pelecypoda 53 53 122 23 7 854

Oligochaeta 16 16 37 7 9 333

Hemiptera 1 1 2 0.4 8 16 Macroinvertebrates of Locust The percent tolerant macro-invertebrates for Locust is 34.06%.

Ephemeroptera Baetidae Ephemeroptera Heptageniidae Trichoptera Hydropsychidae Diptera Chironomidae Megaloptera Corydalidae Coleoptera Elmidae Coleoptera Psephenidae Amphipoda Pelecypoda Oligochaeta Hemiptera

The percent intolerant for Locust is 54.15%.

Because the number of intolerant bugs is very high, and surpasses the number of tolerant bugs, the water quality for Locust is good with an FBI of 4.61. Locust Site Discharge

• Locust, originally expected to have the fastest velocity, has the slowest due to a change in the river’s width. • Why? . Forge site’s wall ends . Width of the river increases

Discharge of Assonet River, 2008-2009

100

Beechw ood 50 Forge Locust

40 Total(cfs) Discharge

0 Oct-08 Nov-08 Dec-08 Jan-09 Feb-09 Mar-09 Months Reactive Phosphorus Load • Loads changed considerably between Oct to March – Changes in discharge – Weather prior to sampling – Forge higher load • Larger discharge but similar concentration Reactive Phosphorous Load, Assonet River, 2008-2009 3.00 Reactive Phosphorus Concentrations 2.50 • Concentrations were a lot higher than 2.00 detected in October due to dilution Beechw ood effect 1.50 Forge Locust • Smaller amount of rain in Nov + Loadin kg/day March 1.00

– Nearly equal at each sample site 0.50 – Concentrations are within the

0.00 normal range less than 0.05 mg/L 10/1/2008 11/13/2008 3/31/2009 Month Concentration of Nitrate on the Assonet River 0.14 Nitrate Load

0.12 • Locust loads were equal 0.10 between March and Nov.

0.08 10/1/08 due to similar discharges 11/13/08

0.06 3/31/09 • Dilution effect in Oct Concentrationin mg/L

0.04

0.02

Load of Nitrate, Assonet River, 2008-2009

0.00 Beechw ood Forge Locust 25.00 Month

Nitrate Concentrations 20.00 – All within normal range between 0.1-2.0 mg/L 15.00 Beechw ood Forge – Concentrations for October Locust and November were below Loadin kg/day 10.00 BDL

– Dilution effect present in Oct 5.00

0.00 10/1/08 11/13/08 3/31/09 Month The draining of Forge Pond does not affect the water quality of the Assonet River because… • The pH of the river is in the acidic range just like the historical data. • The Dissolved Oxygen is consistent with the physical features of the river. • The Nitrates and Phosphates are within the low normal ranges. • Macroinvertebrate are inconclusive because the data does not match historical data for the reasons stated.

The Draining of Forge Pond Does Effect… • Economics – campground Aesthetics – backyards, property values Recreation on the river

Assonet Thanks…

Kim McCoy, The Roberts Family, Mrs. McNally, Mr. Lincoln